The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-07-28
The Relation of the Iron Industry
of the South to that of the
Country at Large

In it's last issue the Manufacturers Record
publishes under the title of ''The Relation of
the Iron Industry of the South to that of the
Country at Large" Hon. VIM. D. Kelley's
fourth letter on the industrial progress and re-
sources of the South. Commenting on this
letter, the Manufacturers Record says
.'In the letter of Judge Kelley published in
this issue, statistics are given oil the production
of iron in the South as compared with the rest
of the country on the basis of aggregate output
in each section. 1t may be well to supplement
these figures with some facts as to the rate of
States produced 4,295,414 tons of pig iron, of
which the South made 1897 ,30l tons; in 1856 the
production for the whole country was y, 6,366,6ss
tons, of which the South made S76,539 tons.
Thus the increase in the whole country was
2,O71 900 tons, and the increase in the South
AIS, 900 TONS Looking at these figures in this
way the gain in the South appears compare
lively small. But the best way to compare the
relative growth of any two sections IS not by q
comparison of the aggregate figures, but by the
relative position as shown by the percentage OF
increase or decrease. On this line of COMPARE
son we have the following:
tons. TONS of increase.
IT try ye esee G3nn s,s9s,us 5,4eo,u7 454
In south. ........ 397,3Ol s76,5S9 12O.G
Thus, while the production of iron in the
South during this period increased 1906 per
cent, the increase in the rest of the country
only g. 2 per cent, of all the iron produced in
the country, while in 1886 the South's proper
ton was 1877.
'sboom year. in the iron trade, and The great
demand and consequent advance in prices
caused many Northern furnaces that had long
been idle to blow in. Many of these furnaces
cannot be run at a profit except during periods
of good prices, and hence we find that between
1880 and 1885, which included several years of
severe depression the North made no advance
in pig iron production, while in the South
there was a large increase. The rel. relative ad-
are shown, not during periods of high prices,
when there is q wide margin OF profit. put dur
ing times of depression. 1t is then that the
test comes as to which section can make iron
to the best advantage On this basis, let us see
how the matter stands. In 1880 the production
of pig iron in the United States was 4295,4l
tons in 1885 the total output was ,529 500 tons.
an increase of 234, 455 tons. Was this increase
in the North or IN the South Inc following
statistics show
tons. tons tons.
sry excepting s,s9s,lls s.sss,aso Dec 244'7ss
In south. ........ 397, SOL S76.539 Inc. 1928
These figures tell the tale. Between 1880 and
1885, owing to dizziness and low prices in the
and West fell Off 1888 tons, while during the
same time Southern furnaces increased their
output 479,23S tons. In 1880 the South made
only about one-tenth as much iron as the North
and W est, while in 1885 it made nearly one
fourth much. Comment is hardly neces-
sary.
This increase in iron production at the South
was made during period of severe depression
and in the face of a decrease in the rest of the
country. Moreover 1t was made in spite of the
fact that a very large proportion of Southern
iron had to be shipped North and West. paying
several dollars arr ton frelght me South is now
pipe works and kindred enterprises to con-
sumo at home the products finer furnaces. 1t is
true that for some years she will continue to
ship considerable quantities of pig iron, but
the development of diversified Industries is
progressing rapidly, and as last Us she can well
do so, she is preparing to make her own agri-
cultural implements, stoves, hardware, &c.
The Importance of this cannot however, be too
often impressed upon Southern people, and we
are glad that Judge Kelley so strongly urges
this in his admirable letter. Let the South
diversity her Industries. make her own tools
and machinery, her own furniture, and all
other household, farm and factory goods and
then add to this by raising her own foodstuffs
and she will then be the richest country on the
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